Chapter 1: The Gathering of Recovering Pantsers

Welcome to a special meeting for those who write without a plan—recovering pantsers! No need to know the term to join us; chances are, if you're here, you might just be one of us. And yes, we have cookies and an abundance of coffee—prepare for a long night!

When you arrive, you’ll find fellow pantsers, some of whom you may recognize and exclaim, "You too? I had no clue! You hide it so well!" Once you've made your introductions, a fellow pantser will guide you to the circle and hand you a choice of a red pen or pencil, along with the essential Pantser Recovery Pamphlet.

We gather in a circle to facilitate our discussion. As we share, “Fly by Night” by Rush plays softly in the background. If anyone dares to wear earplugs, they might just be the first to recount their journey of recovery.

The Twelve Steps for De-Pantsing a Pantser

Here are the twelve essential steps outlined in the pamphlet. Please commit them to memory—or at least jot them down in your scrapbook.

1. Acknowledge your identity as a pantser. You know you write spontaneously, and planning? That’s for the timid.
2. Embrace the power of the red pen (or pencil, if you prefer). Editing is a crucial part of the writing process.
3. Resolve to let your work be reviewed by Grammarly or, at the very least, a human editor. Read your work aloud—just make sure your dog isn’t barking loudly during this!
4. Conduct a thorough search of all your written pieces for errors. A brief inventory can suffice if you're short on time.
5. Forgive yourself and move forward. Everyone makes mistakes; it’s part of the process.
6. Admit to the significant errors—grammatical, punctuation, or stylistic—you’ve made as a pantser. Look up the word "egregious" and incorporate it into your vocabulary!
7. Understand that writing is both an art and a craft, never perfect but always improvable. Remember, finger painting can be fun!
8. Humble yourself to accept editorial help, never holding grudges against those trying to assist you. They deserve a special place in the afterlife.
9. Write down "everyone" and mentally apologize for your writing transgressions. It covers all bases and saves you time. Enjoy a cookie while you’re at it!
10. Make amends. Never publish subpar writing. Read excellent works, and write with quality in mind. Rinse and repeat.
11. Continue to practice these steps repeatedly. You didn’t expect me to repeat them all, did you? Just like shampoo, sometimes repetition is key.
12. Always strive to improve your writing through feedback and practice.
13. Invite another pantser to join our gathering. We could always use more cookies!

Thank you for attending. We hope to see you at the next “Thing” (a term for our meetings—look it up!).

Who would have thought "pantser" was an actual term? I stumbled upon it in Josh Bassett's article, "The 1 Mistake Plaguing New Short-form Writers," where he described his writing style as spontaneous. I sheepishly admitted my own pantser tendencies in the comments, relishing the thrill of hitting "publish."

“It’s good to be seen,” I commented, pondering whether Josh's article was inspired by a pantser recovery program.

Josh chimed in with enthusiasm, "Hands in the center, on three… 1, 2, 3, Pantsers! 🤣"

Noticing the absence of a structured twelve-step program, I decided to create one of my own. Red pens at the ready! Coffee’s brewed! I even baked cookies—because I enjoy both baking and the compliments that come with it.

For the record, planners (the opposite of pantsers) likely need their own recovery program for reasons beyond my understanding. We all have our battles to face.

No offense is intended toward genuine twelve-step programs and their participants; your commitment is admirable.

What is a Pantser?

A pantser is someone who writes without an outline, a term that derives from the idea of writing by the seat of one’s pants. This stands in stark contrast to a plotter, who outlines their work in varying degrees.

Inspiration from Runa Heilung

Runa Heilung is a mystic and dream archaeologist, aiding individuals in rediscovering their inner wisdom through dreams and oracles.

Chapter 2: Insights from the Journey

In this enlightening lecture, Runa Heilung discusses the importance of making amends in recovery and the impact of relationships on personal growth.

This lesson from Choose Recovery provides insights into Step 5, emphasizing the significance of admitting past mistakes and seeking to improve oneself.